Artsakh family who lost four relatives in explosion at fuel depot  addressed open letter to Armenian authorities

ArmInfo. Berta Shahramanyan from Artsakh, who lost four family members - her father, two minor brothers, and her husband - during the forced displacement of the Artsakh population during the explosion at a fuel depot near Stepanakert, has addressed an open letter to the Armenian authorities.

In this letter, published on her Facebook page, she stated that her  family risks becoming homeless and ending up on the street due to the  lack of adequate support from the authorities. "My mother, my  brother, and I, who are disabled due to military service, live in  rented housing. We haven't received any state support during this  time. My relatives still haven't received any status, despite the  fact that the explosion was a consequence of military action," writes  Shakhramanyan.

According to her, the main problem is the sharp rise in rent in  Armenia. This problem, she says, is exacerbated by the fact that she  is the only working member of the family. Moreover, Shakhramanyan  notes that the amount provided by the Armenian government is  insufficient to even purchase a one- bedroom apartment at current  prices. "Unfortunately, my family and I are unable to pay the monthly  rent of 300,000 drams. The government-issued certificates for 3-4  million drams are not enough to purchase even a one-room apartment at  current market prices, and we must vacate our current apartment  within a few days.  I have not yet been able to find an apartment to  rent at an affordable price, as I am the only employed member of the  family - I work in Yerevan and, naturally, am looking for an  apartment in Yerevan," writes the Artsakh refugee.

In her letter, she called on the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs  of Armenia, the Prime Minister's Office, and the State Revenue  Committee to take into account her family's current plight and  somehow resolve this major problem, given that she and her family  could be left homeless in a few days. "Finally, I would like to know  whether the relevant authorities are monitoring the situation and  whether income tax is being paid to the state on the income received  by apartment owners," Shahramanyan concluded.

Days earlier, Artsakh State Minister Nzhdeh Iskandaryan reported that  another family forcibly displaced from Artsakh had ended up homeless.  Specifically, he reported that a woman and her four minor children  had nowhere to live, as they were being asked to pay two months' rent  at once, even though they lacked the means. Therefore, he stated, the  family was temporarily residing in the Artsakh representative office  in Yerevan until the issue was resolved.

Today, amid a sharp rise in rents in Yerevan, thousands of Artsakh  residents could find themselves homeless due to a lack of adequate  state support.